I Tested United’s New Starlink Wi-Fi. Here’s My Honest Review.

Earlier this week, I purchased Wi -Fi on a flight to the Transkantanne United Airline. It was terrifying and practically unusable.

But it is about to change soon, as United started star Link Wi -Fi, riding a star in its United Express Regional Jets. The first Commercial United Flight with the Star Link is expected to launch on May 15, 2025, from Chicago to the Flight UA 5717. The Emberrier, which operates the flight, is the first of the two cabin regional jets of the United States, which will receive service by the end of the year.

Star Link, a subsidiary of Elon Musk’s Aerospace Company Space X, is a satellite internet network that operates thousands of land orbit satellite to provide high internet speed to its customers around the world.

Chicago -based airline says the star link will eventually be activated throughout its fleet, the main line United aircraft is expected to find a star link this year. New WiFi, which will be free for all United Mileage Plus Members are expected to be a game changer, which you want to provide Gate -to -Gate connectivity for maximum devices.

The United Nations invited me to check the Star Link service on a media flight before it turned the ordinary people. Despite some hiccups, the experience was a huge upgrade than usual flight Wi -Fi.

To access Wi -Fi, you will need to have a Mileage Plus account and connect to the United Wi -Fi network, commonly known as “United Wyphi.com”. Once you connect on your phone, a browser will automatically pop up and present it, calling the United Star link link to the use of Wi -Fi.

The rules are banned by sound and video calls, the audio requires a headphone, and advised against viewing content that can make others find it unpleasant. Once you agree with these terms, you can sign in to your Mileage Plus account to access Wi -Fi. It is understood that the United app should be a smooth one -click option for installing, but it does not work for me.

After signing in, you will need to see two ads. I had a 30 -second merit advertisement, followed by 17 seconds United Credit Cards. Once this is done, you are ready to use Wi-Fi.

If you have additional devices, it is easy to connect. Just join the Wi -Fi network on your device. If the window doesn’t pop up, you can go Onboard.united.com. When you click the sign -in button, a QR code will show you can scan from your phone. After viewing the desired ads, it will automatically add the device.

There are still some kinks that the United States needs to work (there are memories on the whole page that it is still in beta mode), but I found it easy and intuitive to use it.

You can use the Wi-FI even if you do not have your mileage plus number connected to your itinerary. It is helpful for people who want to gather mail with the frequent flight program in addition to the Mileage Plus.

The United Star Link is billing as “the fastest Wi -Fi” in the sky, and based on the results of the Internet speed test during the flight, it certainly seems to be true. During a 90 -minute flight, I regularly reduced the downloaded speed to more than 100 megabits per second, with a speed of 222 megabates per second (MBPS). The uploaded speed is usually from 6 to 18 Mbps.

I was able to download YouTube app (308.4 MB) in seconds, watch YouTube videos, stream shows, listen to spots, and even download fee time with some friends and family, who said my image quality was very clear. (Keep in mind that you are not allowed to call on regular commercial flights. It was a media flight.) Anyone was playing the World of Warraft in the air.

But there were also times when the Internet’s speed seemed slow, 8.15 MBPS downloaded and 3.95 MBPS uploaded. Compared to the speed, this is not great. It appeared on sites like YouTube, where it took a few seconds to load the video thumbnases.

But the context here is important. Since it was a media flight, many people were ready to put pressure on the system, including local TV camera staff, content creators and journalists, including numerous devices and a person who announced that it would upload tons of material during the flight. Hopefully, a commercial flight with more regular Wi -Fi use will provide more permanent experience.

When compared to my flight earlier this week, which had a speed of 0.53 MBPS download and the speed of 0.01 MBPS upload, the star link seems like a significant improvement. But the speed of fluctuations during my flight made it clear that the star link still has some limits.

With a star link, United passengers will have access to the Internet from Pushback to arrival. This makes a bigger difference, especially when you are flying on a regional jet that you need to be above a certain height before you connect Wi -Fi.

“We want you to start experimenting, and when you are ready to stand, the experience will end at your destination.” “No wait for this sting for 10,000 feet.”

Once the star link is extended to the mainline fleet, the setback screen will be connected to the Internet in such a way that American airlines have not been able to do before, Melstad told Nairrd Walt.

This can unlock things such as displaying carzel numbers, tracking goods tags and even if necessary, re -reservation of flights.

If you are flying on a regional jet, you may be wondering if the star link has been enabled on your flight. An easy way to check is to go to your flight status page and check the “Entertainment” section under the “influx”.

Star link plane will say, “Free for the Internet by Star Link, United Mileage Plus members.”

As the United States frequently a flyer, I love the global route network of the airline, which means I am often taking flights, which is 10 to 17 hours long. There is a long time to go without high -speed internet connectivity, so I’m excited to improve the star link on board United experience.

However, it remains to be seen how the new Wi -Fi will benefit from these international long -range flights in the sea and some countries. I look forward to the moment when the star link is added to the entire fleet, though that timeline is still unclear.

As someone who likes to travel, I am also excited about what it means to embrace large -scale air travel and industry free Wi -Fi.

Hawaii Airlines and Qatar Airways have already installed the star link on some of their aircraft and presented it as a honorary service, just as the United States plans (as long as you sign up for its free mileage plus loyalty program). Air France and SAS (Scandinavian Airlines) are also expected to start adding starlinks to flights this year.

Other airlines offer Free WiFiAlthough not by starlink, including Delta Airlines and Jet Blue Airways. Even American Airlines, which does not offer free messaging to all passengers, announced that free Wi -Fi was coming, starting from 2026.

With all these airlines on the board with free Wi -Fi, it seems that it is not dim but to stay here.

Photo courtesy over United Airlines.